Adjustable measuring cup



Sept. 7, 1943. R. H. OLDS 2,328,995

ADJUSTABLE MEASURING CUP Filed Nov. 7,-1941 Patented Sept. 7, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE MEASURING our Rance H. Olds, Cleveland, Ohio Application November '7, 1941, Serial No. 18,261 2 Claims. (01.73 165) This invention relates generally to measuring devices and more particularly to an improved adjustable measuring cup.

One object of the invention is to provide an adjustable measuring cup which may be employed for effectively measuring various amounts of shortening, flour, and other materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the movable bottom or plunger employed, together with its shank, may be separated from the cup element for permitting easy cleansing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable measuring cup wherein the shank is formed with graduations for indicating the contents of the cup when in various adjusted positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable measuring cup employing a clip for locking the shank and bottom or plunger in any of several adjusted positions.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide a measuring devicebf this character which is extremely simple in construction and. which may be manufactured of any of a number of materials, such as metal and plastic.

Still further objects of the invention not'mentioned hereinbefore will become obvious as the description proceeds.

In the drawing forming a part of my application.

Figure 1 is a perspective view partly broken away to show the movable bottom or plunger.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, the plunger and a portion of the shank being shown in dotted lines,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, the shank being broken away at its lower end, and

formed with a rectangular opening 5. As seen in Figure 3, the bottom wall 3 is formed with a flat inner surface 8.

Mounted in the cup element 1 and slidable vertically therein is a plunger or bottom wall I, said plunger having an integral shank 8 which, as best seen in Figures 1 and 4, is substantially rectangular in cross section. The shank 8 extends downwardly through the sleeve 4 and has its lower end adapted for manual engagement. Said shank 8 is formed with openings 9 which are adapted selectively to aline with openings III in the sleeve 4. Formed on the outer surfaces of the shank 8 are graduations I0, which indicate the amount of material the cup will hold at the adiusted positions designated by said graduations. The lower edge of the sleeve 4 is cutaway, as shown at 4*, to render the graduations clearly discernible.

Operatively mounted on the sleeve 4 is a locking clip I l which is substantially rectangular in shape andfwhlch is disposed in straddling relation to a portion of the sleeve. As best seen in Figure 4, the clip lkhas opposed end portions I2 and ii, the extreme ends of which are disposed in spaced relation. The end portions l2 and I3 are mounted in the openings I0 at each side of the opening 5 and the shank 8 projecting therethrough. As will be observed, the clip H is of a greater width than the sleeve .4. Also, the portion I2 is of greater length than the portion l3, said portion I! being carried on that leg of the clip which is Figure 4 is a bottom plan view, partly broken away and shown in section to illustrate the manner in which the locking clip is mounted. In the drawing similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the views.

The numeral l indicates in general the cup element of myimproved adjustable measuring cup. The cup element l is shown as being circular but it should be understood that it may be formed in any desired shape. The cup element I is preferably formed of metal or plastic material and includes a side wall 2 and a bottom wall 3. As best seen in Figure 3, the bottom wall is formed with an integral sleeve 4 which is of "substantially rectangular shape and which is located substantially axially of the bottom wall 3 on-the lower surface thereof. The sleeve 4. is

face of the sleeve 4. The clip is shiftable laterally for projecting the end portion I2 through one of the openings 9 in the shank 8 when said openings in said shank is in alinement with the openings Ill, for locking the shank on the cup so that the plunger 1 will be disposed in a, desired adjustable position.

In operation, the housewife or other user first determines the amount of shortening or flour or other material she desires for the particular food she is preparing. Let it be assumed that she desiresv one-half cup of shortening. In order to position the cup element to receive this.

amount, the clip II is shifted so that the leg thereof carrying the portion I3 is in engagement with a portion of the side face of the sleeve 4, When the clip is in this position, the ends I2, and I3 will be out of engagement with the shank I and the shank maybe shifted upwardly for movingthe bottom I upwardly along the inner surface of the wall 2. When the. shank has been shifted upwardly to the extent that the graduations opposite is adjacent the lower edge of the sleeve 4, the clip is shifted laterally for engaging the end portion l2 in the opening 9 which will be alined with the openings ID. The bottom or plunger 1 will thus belocked in position and the cup will be ready to receive a /2 cup of shortening or other material. The cup may then be filled to the brim with the shortening or other material.

When it is desired to remove the'material from the cup, it is only necessary to move the clip i2 to unlocked position, in the manner hereinbefore described, when the shank may be moved upwardly until the upper surface of the bottom I is flush with the upper edge of the wall 2. The material ma then be scraped off into the desired container by the use of a table knife or any other suitable tool.

A pointed out, the shank and plunger may be readily removed from the cup element to facilitate cleaning. The entire device may be made of plastic, metal or other suitable material and used for measuring any substance.

It is thought that the construction and operation of my improved adjustable measuring cup will be clearly understood.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I

1. An adjustable measuring device including a cup element having a bottom wall, a sleeve depending fro-m said bottom wall and being of substantially rectangular shape, said sleeve having a vertical openin and a pair of transversely alined opening communicating with the vertical opening, a plunger slidable in the cup-and having a shank of rectangular cross section, said shank being slidably mounted in the vertical opening 01 the sleeve and having graduations for indicating various adjusted positions for the plunger, said shank having spaced openings, and a substantially rectangular clip partially straddling the sleeve and having end portions engageable in the transverse openings, one of said end portions being longer than the other and engageable selectively in the openings in the shank upon lateral shifting of the clip for locking said shank in an adjusted position.

2. An adjustable measuring device including a cup having a bottom wall, a sleeve depending from said bottom wall and provided with a vertical opening and transversely alined openings communicating therewith, a plunger mounted in the cup and provided with a depending perforated shank slidably mounted in the vertical opening in the sleeve, a locking clip partially straddling the sleeve for lateral sliding movement with respect thereto and having terminal angular portions of different lengths fitted in the transversely alined openings, the long angular portion of the clip being movable to locking position within a selected perforation in the shank when one side of said clip is moved against the adjacent side of the sleeve and to released position when said side is moved out of engagement with the sleeve.

- RANCE H. OLDS. 

